5 Day Trips From London, England

There is much to be excited about if you are studying abroad in London, England or planning to; it is a city full of entertainment, plays, historical sites, museums (most of them free!), pubs, and rain … expect a lot of rain.

But there is more to England and the United Kingdom than London. Here are five day trips to take from London.

Stratford-upon-Avon

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Located on the banks of the River Avon in the Warwickshire countryside is the home of legendary playwright William Shakespeare. You can visit the church where he is buried, a museum dedicated to him, and see a play by a theater company that performs his work all year round. You can also see the school that he attended, as well as the home that he shared with Anne Hathaway. Truly a pilgrimage to make for any theater nerds!

Not interested in Shakespeare? This 800-year-old market town still has many of the original houses from Shakespeare’s time, making this quite the unique sight. It transports you into the past, giving you a look at the England long ago. There are boat tours along the Avon river, as well as Wine Cellar Tours for those who are less theater-inclined.

Stonehenge & Bath

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If you are going to do at least one day trip while you’re in London, you might as well visit Stonehenge! Located in Wiltshire, the prehistoric monument attracts millions of tourists per year. The mystery of it is the main reason — how did it get there?

There are a lot of day trips with numerous companies that include Stonehenge as part of another day trip — mostly because you don’t need a whole lot of time in Stonehenge. There are also morning trips — where you can see the sun rise on the rocks. Quite the sight to see, if you’re interested in that.

Since Stonehenge isn’t quite the full day trip, be sure to also visit Bath on your way back to London. It is known for its natural hot springs — if you’re going to visit only one place there, the Roman Baths is a must. There is a museum, statues, and a temple there as well. The small town is worth walking around if you have the time. Pop into the small shops, buy some sweets and snacks — before heading back to jolly good London.

Oxford

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Alright, it is a city revolving around just one university — but it is a big one and an absolutely gorgeous one. Roaming around the grounds of Oxford University’s various campuses is a treat, and if you’re a Harry Potter fan, you will quickly recognize filming sights from the movies. You can visit the inspiration for the Great Hall at Christ Church College; the tree where Mad-Eye Moody turns Malfoy into a ferret at the New College Tree; and the Hogwarts Infirmary at Bodleian Library.

There is plenty to explore in the city itself. You can visit the Oxford Castle, the Oxford Botanic Garden, and get high tea at Randolph Hotel. Grab a cuppa, open a book, and pretend to be one of the best students in the world in Oxford!

Windsor

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If you visit Buckingham Palace while you’re in London, you might as well visit the Queen’s official residence in Windsor, and the family home of British Kings and Queens for over 1,000 years. You can easily spend the entire day exploring the castle, the changing of the guard, chapel, and grounds. It is, after all, the largest castle in the world.

When you’re there, be sure to check the flag flying from the Castle’s Round Tower. If it is flying, the Queen is in residence. Once you’ve gotten the royal treatment, grab a bite to eat in town before heading back on the train for London.

Paris, France

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Paris deserves an entire weekend — but if you don’t have the time or you only want to get a little taste of France, a day trip to Paris is a must. The train ride is only a few hours, then once there, you can take advantage of the public transportation or get on a hop-on-hop-off bus to see the best of the City of Lights.

There are day trips available through various travel companies, or you can always go independently. Don’t think that you would be able to hit all of the sights, though, if you’re there just for the day– aim for one or two things (think: Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Arc de Triomphe). And eat — plan to eat all the croissants, baguettes, and macaroons.